- Health A to Z
Joan Bengtson, M.D., is assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproduction at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Question:
My daughter was out in the sun all day. For two days she has been running a fever as high as 103. Could this be caused by too much sun?
Answer:
Your child's fever is much more likely to be due to an infection than it is from being "out in the sun all day." However, it is not possible for me to know for sure, since I'd need more history and a chance to examine her for other signs or symptoms of an infection, such as a runny nose, cough, or rash.
Children can get sick from the heat, if we are not careful. One reason is that kids may perspire more for their body mass compared with adults. Infants and young children especially are more likely to become dehydrated because the systems in their bodies have not fully matured yet. This means they cannot control their body temperatures nearly as well as adults, placing them at increased risk for heat-related illness.
Children should never be exposed to excessive heat, as they can suffer serious injury. Parents must always keep an eye on their children for the dangers of heat stress; for example, being really tired, having a bellyache, feeling dizzy, being dehydrated, or having cramping muscles. If the heat bothers older children and adults, they can make themselves cooler by taking off extra clothing, getting a cold drink, or moving somewhere where it is less hot. However, infants and young children cannot do these things on their own, so we have to watch them carefully and make sure they stay cool.